FAQs

Buying Tickets FAQs

What are the sales cutoff times for Iowa's lotto games?

All sales cutoff times listed are for the day of the drawing. For Powerball and Mega Millions
the cutoff time is 8:59 p.m. For Hot Lotto the cutoff time is 8:18 p.m. For All or Nothing, Pick 3 and Pick 4 midday drawings,
the cutoff time is noon and for the evening drawings it is 8 p.m. See our Lotto Drawings
page for more information.

Why is there a sales cutoff time?

All lottery games involve a high level of security controls that take time to administer. Officials must
ensure that proper procedures are followed. The Iowa Lottery wants its games to be completely fair and honest. A number
of measures ensure every ticket issued in a lottery game has the same chance of winning.

What's the difference between a player choosing the easy-pick option versus picking his/her own numbers? Which
option has more winners?

When a player asks for an easy pick, the lotto terminal runs a software program that randomly picks the required
numbers for that particular game. The terminal then issues the play. The software does not check with any central
system before issuing a play, so there's no guarantee another player won't have the same numbers. About
75 percent of all plays are easy picks and because winners follow sales, about 75 percent of winners come from easy
picks.

How old does a person have to be to purchase an Iowa Lottery ticket?

A player must be 21 years of age or older to purchase lottery tickets in Iowa. It is legal for those
under 21 to play lottery games and claim prizes, however a parent or guardian must also sign the ticket
and/or claim form for any claimant who is a minor.

Can debit or credit card be used to purchase lottery tickets in a retail store?

Credit cards may not be used to purchase lottery tickets. Lottery tickets can be purchased from lottery
retailers with cash, debit cards and checks in accordance with payment policies at the particular location involved.

Can debit or credit card be used to purchase lottery tickets on the Internet?

Tickets cannot be purchased on the Internet.

Can lottery tickets be purchased at casinos in Iowa?

Casinos and horse-racing facilities in Iowa are under the oversight of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
There are multiple casinos in the state that sell lottery products.

Does a person have to be a legal citizen to win?

There are no restrictions on winners. By its very definition, a lottery is a game that can be won by anyone from
anywhere, provided that they have a ticket. If someone is not a U.S. citizen, they pay a higher withholding rate on
their winnings. Here in Iowa, tickets in our lottery games can only be purchased at a licensed lottery retailer by
those who are 21 and older.

Helpful Links

Prizes and Proceeds

Since the lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $3.4 billion in prizes while the lottery
has raised more than $1.6 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety
of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was
implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.

Player Info

The Iowa Lottery makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the winning numbers, prize payouts and other information
posted on the Iowa Lottery website. The official winning numbers are those selected in the respective drawings and recorded
under the observation of an independent accounting firm. In the event of a discrepancy, the official drawing results shall
prevail. All names, logos and information contained within these pages are meant for personal use only and may not be
reproduced or distributed without the expressed written consent of the Iowa Lottery. You must be at least 21 years old to purchase
Iowa Lottery tickets. Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-BETSOFF for help.